Will chief prosecutor run in presidential election?
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl speaks during an annual audit of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap
By Jun Ji-hye
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, who has been engaged in a power struggle with Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, has come under scrutiny recently as questions are being raised over whether he has ambitions to run in the next presidential election.
The increased attention on Yoon comes as he gave ambiguous answers during an annual audit of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office at the National Assembly, Thursday, when asked whether he would consider entering politics after his term as chief prosecutor expires.
“I will think about how I can serve the nation and the public after my term is over,” Yoon answered, when Rep. Kim Do-eup of the main opposition People Power Party asked the question and told him he was widely being considered as a potential presidential candidate.
Yoon said, “It is inappropriate to talk about my next move now as I am busy enough carrying out my duties as the prosecutor general, and have no time to think about other things. I will take time to think about my future after my term comes to an end.”
When Rep. Kim pushed the topic further, asking whether becoming a politician could be an opportunity for him to serve the nation, Yoon did not deny the possibility, saying, “It is difficult to answer.”
Yoon was appointed as prosecutor general in July last year. His term expires in July next year, months before the presidential election takes place in March 2022.
Yoon has been cited as a potential presidential runner for the opposition bloc in various opinion polls. In the survey conducted by Gallup Korea in August, Yoon garnered support from about 20 percent of conservative voters in their 60s or older.
He has been in conflict with the incumbent administration since last year, following controversial investigations into former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, a key aide of President Moon Jae-in, and his family over suspicions of academic and financial wrongdoings.
Most recently, Yoon confronted Choo, criticizing her decision to take over the investigative command authority of the prosecutor general in a probe into a high-profile financial scandal.